The
Green River Formation deposits of Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah are
best known for their immaculately-preserved fish, but other examples
are known as well, as this specimen attests. This is an example
of a fine flower known Astronium of the family Anacardiaceae whose
extant members include the cashew, mango, and smoke tree. The stamen
is clearly visible, and the flower has numerous comose (tuft like)
seeds in strong contrast to the matrix. The leaf belongs to a member
of the Leguminosae, or legumes, known as Eythrina roanensis. While
most legumes are shrubs, members of the genus Erythrina are known
as coral trees by virtue of the rich color of their flowers. This
is a fine asscociation plaque of 2 very dissimilar plants.